Modern life is causing increasing numbers of people in their late 20s to feel extremely stressed, according to a new study.

Researchers revealed that the top three causes of stress are money worries, work problems and lack of sleep.

An expert said that younger people are under more pressure than any other time in recent history and that many turn to alcohol, cigarettes and drugs to cope.

Just under 30 per cent of young people said that work was a major contributor to their stress levels. Most people in their late 20s said they felt stressed three times a day

The poll of 2,000 people was carried out
by media company Entertainment One to mark the DVD and Blu-ray release
of psychological thriller Side Effects. It asked participants to rate
their happiness from one to ten amongst other questions.

It found that increasingly numbers are turning to professional help for their so-called 'quarter-life crises', with a third having undergone therapy and a quarter having been prescribed antidepressants.

Just under 40 per cent of young Britons said money worries were their biggest concern and seven out of 10 said financial issues caused at least one argument a week.

Neil Shah, Director of The Stress
Management Society said: 'The pressures a modern twenty-something faces
are very different to their counterparts from 20 or 30 years ago.

'It is the hardest time to set out in the world, leave home and establish your career.Today, they have financial concerns and
struggle to get on the housing ladder, compared to those currently in
their 50s who were able to get settled and secure during a time when it
was easier to do so.

'Stress can be reduced considerably by
incorporating relaxation into your daily routine through regular
exercise, time outside or activities like yoga and meditation.'

The survey found that 23 per cent turn to alcohol, 10 per cent to cigarettes and eight per cent to drugs to cope with their life.

Others did try aromatherapy and acupuncture in a bid to unwind, however.

The poll also found that anxiety reduced dramatically after the age of 55. The majority of this older age group was found to be stressed just once a month compared to the majority of 20-somethings who said they feel stressed three times a day.

Those in their 30s are also less anxious, with only one in 10 having turned to therapy or antidepressants.

Generation Stress: Lack of sleep as well as arguing with a partner both made it into the top ten problems of young Britons living in 21st century society

The study also found that men find it easier to cope with stress by relaxing or sleeping their stress off. Women were found to be more prone to depression and more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than men.

Finally, the saddest Britons were found to live in rural areas of East Anglia, where one in 10 gave their life just one out of 10 for happiness.

Conversely, the North West is the happiest region, with 1 in 10 declaring that they are 10 out of 10 and couldn't be happier with their life.

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Rise of the QUARTER-life crisis: Money worries and body issues are causing 20-somethings to become super stressed